Strand feeding mechanism



Nov.. 9, 1943. P. F. cooPER STRAND FEEDING MEGHANISM Filed Aug. 1 1942 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 9, 1943. P. F. cooPER 2,333,705

STRAND FEEDING MEGHANISM Filed Aug.v 1 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vf/v 70A. 4i QW.

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atenteci Nov. 9, 1943 STRAND FEEDING MECHANISM Paul F. Cooper, Laconia,N. H., assgnor to Scott & Williams, Inc., Laconia, N. H., a corporationof Massachusetts Application August 1, 1942, Serial No. 453,203

Claims.

This invention relates to furnishing or strand feeding mechanism fortextile machines, particularly knitting and winding machines. Suchmachines require mechanism for supplying strands accurately, smoothlyand at high speed under many different exacting conditions. For example,in knitting machines for fashioning garments the thread demand may beinterrupted or varied in rate from time to time, or at regularintervals. -The furnishing mechanism serving such machines musttherefore be capable oi feeding the strand or thread effectively atdefinite predetermined rates over a Wide range of speeds, of permittingintervals of complete interruption with no thread being fed and ofresuming feed smoothly and without appreciable lag after each suchinterruption of strand movement.

Important fields of use for my novel furnishing mechanism are inconnection with circular underwear machines, which require threadfeeding at uniform rate, at variable controlled rates with or withoutinterruption periods when no thread is required (in these machines itmay likewise be desired to handle elastic thread with or without astretching device between the feeding mechanism and the needles); incircular hosiery machines with or without a stretching device in whichthe thread is required to be supplied at a controlled rate of feedbrokenby intervals of rest; and in flat hosiery or fiat under- Wearmachines in which the thread demand ceases at the end of each stroke andin which the thread is supplied either at a uniform rate or at a rate offeed varying in accordance with a selected predetermined cycle and withor without a stretching or tension device. My invention is hereindisclosed as organized for use in these elds but is in no sense limitedthereto.

I have discovered a novel structure for furnishing mechanisms that iscompletely satisfactory for carrying out all the functions abovediscussed. The mechanism comprises cooperating members of firm resilientrubber or rubber-like material shaped to present to each other conicalcontacting, strand-engaging faces of roughened configuration andarranged to be rotated about convergent axes under uniform pressure ofengagement, in combination with a guide movable to direct a strand or anumber of strands in paths at different distances from the small end ofone of the said conical faces, or from the point where the axes of theconical surfaces intersect or most nearly intersect.

In addition to the useful characteristics above discussed, the novelmechanism of my invention has other valuable and unpredictableadvantages. In the first place, it operates with complete control of theyarn, that is to say, it delivers the yarn smoothly and at a uniformrate of speed and uniform light tension and it completely eliminates alljerking or catching of the yarn that may occur at the receiving orincoming side of the mechanism. For example, in being unwound from acone the turns of the strand are bound to catch momentarilyfrom time totime, cr to require varying pull as the core diameter decreases. Suchinequalities in the behavior of the incoming strand are absorbed by theresilient strand-engaging material presented in my improved mechanism,and cannot be detected in the strand itself as it is delivered from theconical strand-engaging faces. This improved result is probably due tothe fact that al1 slip is eliminated between the strand and the feedingsurfaces that engage it. This result may be due in part to a capacityfor momentarily yielding of the resilient material of the feedingmembers which cushions and absorbs any irregularities occurring in theadvancing movement of the strand at the point of initial engagement.Whatever the case may be the result is that the strand as deliveredmoves at the desired controlled rate of speed with a very light, uniformtension regardless of substantial and variable tension that might existin the incoming strand running to the furnishing mechanism.

Another important and unpredictable result of my improved furnishingmechanism is that it practically eliminates the formation of lint orfluff from the yarn. In furnishing mechanisms as heretofore constructeda very ,objectionable characteristic has been the continual strippingfrom the strand of lint, fuzz or short fibres which in the continuousoperation of the machine build up first into downy rolls and then intocompact bodies or slugs that are likely to be picked up eventually andcarried along by the strand causing breakage or an imperfection in thefinished product. An objectionable formation of lint occurs infurnishing mechanism employing metal or other rigid strand-engagingfaces or a single rigid strand-engaging face, or a toothed configurationof feeding surface. It has been discovered however, that by employingcooperating members of firm, resilient rubber-like material withroughened conical contacting strand-engaging faces, the formation oflint is practically eliminated and the mechanism may be run at highspeed for hours without any objectionable formation of lint.

Another advantage of the furnishing mechanism of my invention is that ithas a wider range of utility than mechanisms heretofore yknown in thatit capable of handling a greater variety of yarns than heretofore. Infact, by my invention, the range of the mechanism is increased in bothdirections, that is to say, it is capable of satisfactorily handlinglight single-strand yarns too delicate to be handled in furnishingmechanisms heretofore konwn, and it is capable f handling stiffwire-like strands of rayonor other thermoplastic yarns or mono-filamentyarns, such as that sold under the trade name Saran The furnishingmechanism of my invention has the further advantage that it will handletwo or more strands of yarn at the same time even though the strandsmayrun from time to time in overlapping or crossing paths. 'I'hedifferent strands `may be delivered by my novel mechanism independentlyat the required different rates without interfering with each other andthis is true even though the different strands may be of differentmaterial such as wool or cotton.

Still another very important adavantage in the furnishing mechanism ofmy invention is that its use overcomes the necessity for frequentlyadjusting the stitch of knitting machinery with which it is used.Heretofore it has been necessary every few hours in operating machinesto make adjustments in the stitch forming mechanism to compensate forvariations in length of stitch due to reduction in the size of thethread package as the thread is consumed. 'I'he necessity for thisskilled supervision and delicate adjustment is eliminated by thefurnishing mechanism of my invention, and machines serviced thereby maybe operated continuously without any adjustment of the stitch due tovariation in size of the thread package.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood andappreciated from the following description of a preferred embodimentthereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in theaccompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of the complete mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a view in the side elevation,

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation, with portions broken away, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are fragmentary views on an enlarged scale -of one of theconical feeding members of the mechanism.

Without in any respect confining myself to the particular textilemachine, which has been selected only by Way of example, I will proceedto describe the illustrated mechanism as organized for feeding fourstrands of yarn from suitable sources of supply to the needles of aknitting machine.

The essential elements of the mechanism are cooperating cones or conicaldisk members 9 and I2 each having thereon a thick layer or facing I0 orI3 of molded rubber or rubber-like material and being arranged to rotateabout intersecting axes with their conical surfaces in tangentialrolling relation. The cones illustrated have metal bodies of the samesize and shape, each being hollow and having a flat base angle of 25 orthereabout. The cones are both mounted upon a cast iron base I II whichis arranged to be bolted to the main frame of the knitting machine. Tothe base is rigidly but ad- ,iustably bolted an upright bracket I5having bearings for a short vertical shaft I6 provided at its lower endwith a pinion I'I arranged to be driven by a large gear I8 constitutinga. part of the knitting machine and the only part herein shown, At isupper end the shaft is provided with a bevelled gea; I9 and this isarranged to drive.

one of the conical feeding members as will presently be described.

The uprightbracket i5 has integral upwardly diverging arms 20 and 30.The arm 20 is transversely extended and terminates in an elongated bosswhich provides bearings for a short inclined shaft 2| having at itslower or outer end a small bevelled gear 22 arranged to mesh with thebevelled gear I9 on the shaft I6 already mentioned. At its upper orinner end the shaft 2| is shouldered and fitted into the metal cone 9 sothat this cone is positively driven for rotation with the shaft 2| fromthe large gear I8 of the knitting machine through the train of mechanismjust described.

Adjustably mounted on the bracket I5 at the base of the stationary arm30 is a bearing arm 3|. This bearing arm is arranged for accurateadjustment about the axis of a pivot bolt 32 passing through the arm 30and is supported in adjusted position by adjusting screws 33 which arethreaded into the arm 30 and bear againstthe outer face of the arm 3|.At its upper end the arm 3|A is provided with an elongated boss 3|providing an inclined bearing for a short shaft 35, which is free toslide longitudinally and to rotate in the bearing. The shaft isshouldered at its upper end and fitted into the metal cone I2. At itslower end it is backed up by a compression spring 36 which in turn isadjustably supported by an abutment screw 31 threaded into a boss inline with the bearing in the arm 3|. The screw 31 is set so as tomaintain the conical rubber-covered surfaces of the two cones inyielding contact with just the desired degree of pressure. The cone I2is rotated by its contact with the cone 9, both cones of course movingin the same direction at the common line of contact of their facings.

The metal cones 9 and I2 are each provided with a facing or shoe III orI3 of firm resilient material such as natural or synthetic rubber of oilresisting composition. It is necessary that the-coating should have thischaracteristic as many of the yarns which the mechanism must handlecarry with them oil or paraiiin. The facing is shown in Figs. 4 and 5 ascomprising acomplete self-contained unit shaped to bestretched over themetal cone of each feeding device and to maintain its position thereonwithout slipping or displacement. The conical wall of each rubber unitI0 or I3 is of substantial thickness and terminates in a shoulderbounded by a narrow cylindrical surface and having a fiat inwardlyextending annular flange II. Between this flange and the conical innersurface of the unit is provided an annular channel in which is receivedthe lower edge of the metal cone 9 or I2.

The outer surface of each facing unit I0 or I3 may be roughened in anydesired pattern. As herein shown it is provided with intersecting ribsforming diamond shaped recesses of a conventional knurled pattern, andWhile this is a very satisfactory surface configuration, the particulardesign adopted is a matter of secondary importance only. The apex ofeach facing unit is truncated and presents a circular aperture having awall made up in part by the projecting ends of the ribs which form theknurled pattern of its surface. These projections constitutestrand-engaging means which are effective in carrying the strands fromneutral or 'non-feeding position to the bite of the feeding membersafter periods of interruption in the feeding movements of-the strands.The knurled resilient surfaces of the two feed members are held inyielding contact by the action of the spring 36, as already explained,and in operation this resilient pressure is of an amount sufficient tocause a slight compression of the rubber of the facings along the commonline of contact between the two feed members.

In Fig. 1 four strands are shown as being guided to and through theillustrated furnishing mechanism although a single str and may behandled with all of the advantages above described. 'Ihe adjustablebearing arm 3| carries a rearward extension 38 in which is adjustablymounted a bracket 39 carrying a downwardly extending guide plate 4|!having spaced eyes therein through which the respective strands are ledto the furnishing mechanism from any suitable source of supply. Theforward end of the bracket is forked and provided with a transversepivot pin 4l upon which are pivotally mounted four spaced strand guideseach-having a long forwardly and upwardly extending arm 42 provided witha strand receiving loop at its forward end and a short arm 43 which whenthe mechanism is in operation, extends forwardly and downwardly belowthe point of intersection of the axes of the two conical feedingmembers. The strands pass through the eyes of the guide plate 40.through loops in the ends of the short arms 43, thenceupwardly to theloops in the ends of the long arms 42 and nally downwardly through holesin a second guide plate 29, secured to the base i4, passing directlytherefrom to the needles of the knitting machine. The portion of thestrand passing between the two arms 42 and 43 of the strand guide may bemoved from a neutral position of no feed, in space providedby truncationof the conical feeding members, downwardly into a position where it isengaged by the conical surfaces of the feeding member, and thenprogressively as the strand demand increases to positions further andfurther from the small ends of the cones to positions where the speed offeeding movement is progressively greater and greater.

Each strand guiding device is normally retained by a tension spring 44in non-feeding position, but is drawn forwardly and downwardly againsttheaction of its spring by tension in its own particular strand due tothe instantaneous demand from the knitting machine. The greater thedemand the furtherforward is the strand guide swung, and the fasterfeeding movement therefore imparted to its particular strand. As thedemand slackens the guide is moved by its spring rst toward a positionof slower feeding speed, and then when the demand ceases to initialnon-feeding position. Thus the strand is moved along the line of contactbetween the conical surfaces to provide the variation of strand feedingspeed and it will be apparent that this movement precludes the wearingof any strand tracks in the surfaces and maintains the surfacescontinuously uniform throughout. Attention is also directed to the factthat the .two cooperating and like resilient surfaces, acting togetheragainst the strand, do not form lint and nuff from the yarn and thus isavoided the consequent breakage and imperfections in the product whichresult from employing two unlike surfaces that act unequally 4on theyarn.

In order to complete the description of the illustrated mechanism it isnecessary to refer to automatic means for detecting strand-breakagewhich is herein illustrated, but which forms no part of the presentinvention. The bracket 39 carries an L-shaped rocker member 4B pivotallymounted on a transverse shaft 4l and oscillated by an eccentric on theupper end of the vertical shaft I6 through an adjustable connecting rod48. The forwardly extending arm of the rocker carries a horizontal sheetmetal plate 49 having a downwardly extending flange at its forward end.Each of the strand guides is provided with a rearwardly extendingshoulder which in case of breakage is caused by the spring 44 to move'rearwardly into the path of oscillation of the spring plate 49 butwhich is maintained slightly in advance of its path so long as theweight of a strand is carried by the long arm 42 of the strand guide. Ineach revolution of the shaft I6, the plate 49 is therefore oscillated sothat it will engage any shoulder 45 which happens to be in its path.Electrical connections vare made between the plate 49 and the respectivestrand guides. Accordingly if any strand breaks the shoulder 45 of thecorresponding guide will be engaged by the flange of the plate 49 and anelectrical circuit opened by which automatic stopping mechanism or anydesired warning signal may be operated to indicate that the mechanismshould be rethreaded. In Fig. 2, the strand guides are shown as engagedand .held in inoperative position by the plate 49, this being theposition in which they are held when the strand is broken and fallenfrom the loops of the arms 42.

The springs 44 are so adjusted that when there is no tension upon thestrand the respective strand guides are positioned to lead the strandsthrough the space provided by the truncated ends of the feeding membersor in non-feeding position. When tension is exerted on any of thestrands by the demand of the knitting machine the arm 42 of thecorresponding strand guide is pulled downwardly and accordingly thestrand in passing from the lower arm 43 of the loop to the upper arm 42,is moved downwardly toward the bite of the feeding members. When it hasbeen moved sufficiently to be engaged by the projecting ends of the ribsat the small end of the cones, it is immediately whipped into the biteof the feeding members. pedite and facilitate the passage of the strandfrom non-feeding position to a position such as shown in Fig. 1 whereinthe strand passes through the common line of contact between the conicalsurfaces.

The respective strands, when in feeding position, are engaged yieldinglyand rmly by the resilient material of the facing units and advancedwithout any detectable slippage at a rate of feed determined by therotation of the feeding members and the position of the strand betweenthem. While the movement of the strands to the feeding members may besomewhat irregular for reasons already-explained, these irregularitiesare removed and dissipated by the action of the feeding members. Whileal1 the reasons for these advantageous results are not entirelyunderstood it is probable that the two resilient strand-engagingsurfaces may instantaneously yield to any retraction of the enteringstrand and then, as the obstruction is overcome resume These projectionsact to ex- Y their normal condition. However, in no instance is thereany detectable slip or stripping of the strand and if an instantaneousdistortion of the gripping material occurs it does not impart anynoticeable irregularity to the strand as delivered by the feedingmembers. As the rate of strand demand increases the guides 42-43 arebrought further and further forward and the strand is carried downwardlyto positions in which the linear surface speed of the feeding members isincreased to satisfy the increasing demand of the knitting machine. Asthe demand slackens the strand guides are swung upwardly by theirsprings 44 and when the demand ceases momentarily or for a longer periodthe guide of that particular strand moves the strand into nod-feedingposition out of range of the feeding members.

When a single strand guide is employed both of its arms are preferablylocated in the vertical tangential plane of the two feedingv members.When two or more strand guides are employed they may be arranged witheven transverse spacing, it being necessary only that the short lowerarms 43 of the guides are brought close enough together at their outerends to move freely into space between the conical surfaces l and I3 ofthe feeding members.

The preferred surface configuration of the feeding members is wellillustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. It is a more or less conventional knurledpattern formed by intersecting ribs which start at the base of theconical facing unit, andrun obliquely toward its apex defining betweenthem diamondshaped depressions disposed with their long axes coincidingwith the elements of the conical surface. The ribs consequently presentlong narrow strand-engaging areas or lines, and thus momentary yieldingof the limited strand-engaging areas is facilitated.

Further, corrugating or roughening the rubber facing causes the yarn tofeed freely from the surface and keeps it from sticking to the cones,winding around them 'and breaking the strand of yarn. The two corrugatedfeeding surfaces moreover so grip the yarn that it is permitted tochange from one position to another quickly and while thus handled theformation of lint is practically eliminated. This is due, at least inpart, to the elimination of slippage of the strand between the feedingmembers, but mayalso be due to the incidental elimination of staticelectricity.

While I have shown and described the feeding members 9 and l2 as hollowmetal cones with rubber-like resilient facings, it is understood thatthese cones could 'be of any other suitable material, suclrasplasticswood or hard rubber and can either be hollow or solid. In someinstances, a solid cone of the resilient material might be preferable tothe metal cones herein shown.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described it in the best form nowknown to me, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. Furnishing mechanism including in its structure two cooperatingrotatable members of firm resilient rubber-like material shaped andarranged to present to each other along a line contact disposed betweenthe rotary axes of the members conical contacting strand-en gaging facesof roughened configuration, means for rotating said members in the samedirection at their common line of contact and under uniform pressure atsaid line, and a guide movable in accordance with machine demand todirect a strand in paths along said line at different distances from thesmaller end of the said conical faces, said faces being-adaptedresiliently and frictionally to engage the strand along said line andfeed the strand longitudinally at speeds corr responding to the rotarysurface speeds of the surfaces engaging the strand.

2. Furnishing mechanism including in its structure a pair of cooperatingrotatable members of rm resilient rubber-like material shaped andarranged to present to each other along a line contact disposed betweenthe rotary axes of the members conical faces roughened to present raisedcontacting strand-engaging areas, means for rotating said members in thesame direction at their common line of contact and under uniformpressure of engagement at said line, and a guide movable in accordancewith machine demand to direct a strand in paths along said line atdifferent distances from the smaller end of said conical faces andbeyond their range of feeding action, said faces being adaptedresiliently and frictionally to engage the strand along said line andfeed the strand longitudinally at speeds corresponding to the rotarysurface speeds of the surfaces engaging the strand.

3. Furnishing mechanism including in its structure cooperating rotarystrand-feeding members each having a conical body and a conicalrubber-like facing thereon presenting a roughened and resilientstrand-engaging surface, said me'mbers being arranged to rotate intangential relation along a line contact and about converging axes withlimited and yielding pressure of engagement, and strand guiding meansfor movably directing a strand in accordance with machine demand indifferent paths along said line between said members and beyond theirrange of feeding action, said faces being adapted resiliently andfrictionally to engage the strand along said line and feed the strandlongitudinally at speeds corresponding to the rotary surface speeds ofthe surfaces engaging the strand.

4. Furnishing mechanism including in its structure cooperatingstrand-feeding members, each comprising a rigid core having asubstantial covering layer of rubber-like material, the said memberspresenting conical surfaces to each other and being rotatable intangential relation along a line contact, both surfaces having abasrelief pattern therein providing projecting por` impart a feedingmovement thereto and be free to yield instantaneously to momentaryretarda tion of the incoming strand and immediately t'o reassure theirnormal condition when such retardation terminates, and means for holdingand directing a strand laterally along said line in accordance withmachine demand.

5. Furnishing mechanism including in its structure cooperatingstrand-feeding members, each comprising a rigid cone having asubstantial covering layer of rubber-like material, the said memberspresenting conical surfaces to each other and being rotatable aboutconverging axes in tangential relation along a line contact between saidaxes, both surfaces being recessed in a knurled pattern providinglimited outstanding strand-engaging areas capable of being displacedmomentarily by irregular retardation of a strand fed between them, andhaving the capacity of immediately reassuming their normal position whensuch retardation terminates, and means for holding and directing astrand laterally along said line in accordance with machine demand.

6. For a furnishing mechanism, a strand-'feeding member comprising ahollow truncated cone having a conical facing unit of rubber-likematerial provided with an annular base flange extending inwardly fromthe conical wall of the unit and embracing the lower edge of the saidmetal cone.

7. For a furnishing mechanism having a strand feeding member, acooperating strandfeeding member'comprising a cone having a substantiallayer of rubber-like facing material thereon presenting a conicalsurface configuration consisting of intersecting ribs extending upwardlyfrom the-base of the cone and defining between them diamond shapeddepressions, the ribs providing narrow upstanding strand engaging areasand said conical surface being adapted to cooperate with the rst namedmember t0 feed a strand.

8. For a furnishing mechanism having a strand feeding member, a facingfor a strandfeeding member comprising a conical unit of rubber-likematerial provided with an annular base flange extending inwardly toembrace its support, said facing being adapted to cooperate with thefirst named member to feed a strand.

9. For a furnishing mechanism having a strand feeding member, a facingfor a strandfeeding member comprising a conical unit of rubber-likematerial having an outer surface configuration consisting ofintersecting ribs extending upwardly from the base of the cone anddefining between them diamond-shaped depressions, the ribs providingnarrow upstanding strand-engaging areas and said facing being adapted tocooperate, with the first named member to feed a strand.

10. Furnishing mechanism including in its structure cooperatingstrand-feeding members rotatable about converging axes and presenting toeach other roughened conical faces of resilient rubber-like material,and a plurality of strand-guides having short arms movable in adjacentpaths in the space between the diverging conical surfaces of saidmembers and long arms arranged with substantially greater lateralspacing for movement above said members.

PAUL F. COOPER.

